Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1300: Clearing Up the Misunderstanding - Liu Bei Borrows a Passage

When Ma Yue heard that Lü Bu was to muster his troops for an expedition the next day, he summoned the young men of the Imperial Guard overnight: "All of you, be alert! Get a good rest tonight, and assemble at the drill ground at dawn tomorrow. Everyone must be in high spirits, so as not to embarrass your father!" The young men responded in unison, rubbing their hands together, eager to mount their horses and set off for the expedition immediately.

The next day, just as dawn broke, banners fluttered in the wind at the Yanmen training ground. Lu Bu, clad in gleaming silver armor and wielding his halberd, stood atop the command platform, his gaze sweeping over the gleaming armor of the Yanmen soldiers below. He commanded in a deep voice, "Gather the troops!"

The guards called out the names loudly, and ten thousand elite troops from Yanmen Pass lined up in formation, the clanging of their armor shaking the ground. Having completed the troop roll, Lü Bu turned to Chen Gong and Qian Zhao standing beside him, his tone grave: "Gongtai, Zijing, I am going to answer the summons of the King of Liang to lead troops to Youzhou. The defense of Yanmen Pass and Bingzhou is entirely entrusted to you two."

Qian Zhao clasped his hands in greeting and replied, "General, rest assured, this humble general will defend Yanmen to the death and will not allow a single soldier to cross the pass!" Chen Gong stroked his beard and nodded, "General, you can focus on your campaign. With the two of us in the rear, there will be no mishaps."

Ma Yue was gazing at the neatly arrayed Yanmen Army when he suddenly noticed Lü Lingqi standing at the edge of the ranks in full military attire, her small face tense, as if she were filled with displeasure. He leaned closer and smiled, "Lingqi, you're all dressed up too. Are you going to war with us?"

Lu Lingqi turned her head away, completely ignoring him. Ma Yue took two more steps forward, and she simply turned around and walked to Lu Bu's side, standing next to her father, still without saying a word.

Lu Bu mustered his troops and strode up to Ma Yue: "Your Highness, the ten thousand troops at Yanmen are ready to depart at any time. However..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the distant mansion, "Should we wait until you and Ao'er have set off for Chang'an before we depart? Or should we set off immediately?"

Ma Yue looked bewildered: "Uncle, what do you mean? I'm taking Ao'er to Chang'an?"

Lü Bu suddenly cupped his hands in greeting, his tone distant: "Young Master, I am unworthy of the title 'Uncle.' You may simply call me Lü Bu, or General Lü."

"Uncle, what do you mean by this?" Ma Yue was even more anxious. "We're going to the battlefield in Youzhou. What are we doing taking Ao'er with us? He's only two years old. Can he withstand such a humiliation? Also, why were you selecting generals for the expedition and not naming my Youlin Army? Father specifically asked me to bring them under your command for training. We can't just leave them at Yanmen, can we?"

Lu Bu was also taken aback, his brows furrowing: "You...you want to come to the battlefield with us?"

“Exactly!” Ma Yue puffed out his chest. “My father sent me to invite my uncle to come out of seclusion so that my Young Lin Army could accompany him on the expedition and learn some real skills on the battlefield!”

Upon hearing this, both Lü Bu and Diao Chan, who had just approached, were taken aback. Looking at Ma Yue's open and honest expression, Diao Chan suddenly understood something, tugged at Lü Bu's sleeve, and whispered, "Could it be... that we've misunderstood?"

Lu Bu stared into Ma Yue's eyes and saw that his expression was sincere and genuine. The resentment he felt because of the "hostage" gradually dissipated, but he was also a little embarrassed.

Lu Bu remained silent for a long time, the tip of his halberd lightly tapping the ground. He looked at Ma Yue with a complicated expression: "The King summoned you here, could it be... not to have you bring Ao'er to Chang'an as a hostage?"

"Uncle, what are you saying!" Ma Yue was taken aback for a moment, then laughed loudly, "What do you mean by sending Ao'er to Chang'an as a hostage? Uncle, you lived in Chang'an back then, you should know how many famous teachers there are in the military academy! You can learn both strategy and martial arts. The one or two thousand young Lin Army soldiers behind me are all brothers who studied military strategy with me in the military academy!"

He pointed to the rows of young men behind him, his voice growing louder: "In the entire Western Liang region today, which general doesn't want to send his child to the military academy? Look at their enthusiasm, their spirit—they're begging for advancement, begging to learn skills! If it were truly for hostages, who would be so eager?"

Diao Chan and Lü Bu exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with astonishment. Even Lü Lingqi and Chen Gong were stunned. Could it be... that they had really been overthinking things?

Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, Ma Yue decided to explain more clearly: "This military academy was specially established by my father and will continue to be run. All the children of soldiers and officials can be sent here to study, regardless of kinship, just to broaden their horizons and enhance their abilities so that they can better serve Xiliang in the future."

He turned to Lü Bu and said sincerely, "I will not return to Chang'an this time. I have brought the Young Lin Army to your command by my father. I want to learn some real skills on the battlefield with you, Uncle. Please don't think we young lads are in the way."

Everyone suddenly realized that the resentment they had felt over the "proton" vanished instantly, like morning mist dispelled by the rising sun.

Chen Gong quietly approached Lü Bu and whispered, "Fengxian, I'm afraid we've misunderstood. If Lü Ao went to Chang'an as a hostage, wouldn't the Crown Prince, staying in your army, be more important than Lü Ao? It seems the King of Liang is indeed magnanimous and doesn't consider us outsiders. If you can become the Crown Prince's teacher today, and if the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, what need is there to say about your and the Lü family's future?"

Lu Bu felt a surge of warmth in his heart, realizing how ridiculous his earlier suspicions had been. Diao Chan's eyes also reddened, and she tugged at his sleeve, saying, "Husband, it seems we were too narrow-minded. The King trusts you so much, you must protect Yue'er's safety on the battlefield, and there must be no mishaps."

"Good! Good!" Lü Bu nodded repeatedly, turned around and strode to Ma Yue, solemnly cupping his hands and saying, "Nephew, your uncle was narrow-minded and misunderstood the King's intentions. You have had a long and arduous journey. Would you like to rest for a couple more days and recharge your energy before setting out again?"

Ma Yue waved his hand, his eyes flashing with youthful vigor: "Uncle, military strategy dictates that speed is of the essence in war. We've already been delayed for quite some time, and I've heard that General Xu Rong and General Gongsun Zan have already set out with their troops. We must hurry and catch up!"

Looking into the unwavering resolve in his eyes, Lü Bu suddenly recalled his own past. He too had felt this way, eager for battle, his spirit unstoppable. He laughed loudly, brandishing his halberd: "Speed ​​is of the essence in war! Issue my order: the entire army march!"

The bugle call resounded once more through Yanmen Pass, this time with an even greater sense of fervor. Red Hare trotted along, snorting excitedly; the young soldiers of the Young Lin Army tightened their reins, marching alongside the armored warriors of Yanmen Pass.

Lu Bu turned his head to look at Ma Yue beside him. Seeing that Ma Yue held a silver spear and stood tall, he suddenly said, "Nephew, when we get to the battlefield, your uncle will teach you a few ways to defeat the enemy. I guarantee they will be more practical than what the teachers at the military academy teach."

Ma Yue's eyes lit up, and he quickly cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Uncle!"

Lu Lingqi rode up and interrupted, "Father, what about me?"

"You?" Lu Bu glared at her, but a smile played on his lips. "Learn from me, and don't try to be a hero!"

The wind whipped the banners, and the sound of horses' hooves shook the earth. The city walls of Yanmen gradually receded into the distance, while the battlefield of Youzhou awaited them ahead.

Outside Xuchang, the mighty torrent of Xiliang cavalry surged forward. Ma Chao, clad in gleaming silver armor, rode his snow-white steed, Aurora, shattering the remaining ice. Behind him followed his four generals: Pang De, Zhang Xiu, Zhang Liao, and Xu Huang. Tens of thousands of soldiers, their banners obscuring the sun, marched towards Jizhou. The sound of hooves shook the earth, the clashing of armor mingling with the blaring of horns, exuding an unstoppable momentum.

Meanwhile, war clouds were gathering over Youzhou. Lü Bu led the Yanmen Army and Ma Yue's Youlin Army, swiftly catching up with Xu Rong and Gongsun Zan, who had advanced earlier. The three armies merged, like a raging torrent, heading straight for the Youzhou border guarded by Yan Liang and Wen Chou. The thunderous hooves of the White Horse Cavalry, the armor of Xu Rong's troops gleaming in the sun, and the cold glint of Lü Bu's halberd sent shivers down the spines of the entire Youzhou defense line.

Further afield in Yanzhou, Cao Cao personally led a large army to attack cities and seize territory. The sounds of ladders crashing against city walls and arrows piercing armor filled the air. Cao Cao was clearly unwilling to miss out on this chaos sweeping through Hebei, and his sword was aimed directly at the Yanzhou garrison under Yuan Shang's command, determined to bring this fertile land into his grasp.

In an instant, war broke out simultaneously in the three provinces of Ji, You, and Yan, which were under the jurisdiction of the "Ji Dynasty" established by Yuan Shang, with smoke and fire filling the vast fields. Inside the palace in Ye City, Yuan Shang looked at the urgent reports coming from all over the country, his hands trembling uncontrollably, and the newly made dragon throne beneath him felt like a red-hot iron. Feng Ji, Xu You, and others surrounded him, offering a jumble of advice, but not a single word could truly resolve this "precarious situation."

Meanwhile, in the south, on the open fields of Nanyang Commandery, Liu Bei's army had completed its assembly. Inside the central command tent, Liu Bei looked at Qiao Commandery on the map and said to Jian Yong, "I would trouble you to go to Qiao Commandery again and ask the Cao family for passage. We need to go straight to Hebei to attack Yuan Shang's false dynasty, and we need to pass through their territory once."

Jian Yong accepted the order and set off, but when he arrived in Qiao County, he was stopped by Cao Pi outside the city. The young nobleman was very respectful, but his tone was impeccable: "Mr. Jian has come from afar, and I should do my best to be a good host. However, my father is currently fighting in Yanzhou, and there are important military matters that need to be discussed with him. Please rest for the time being, and allow me to send a message to the front lines."

This "rest" lasted for nearly ten days. Jian Yong waited in the post station from the chill of spring until the sun warmed, but he received neither a reply requesting passage nor even another glimpse of Cao Pi. When the news reached Nanyang, Liu Bei slammed his fist on the table, causing the wine cups on it to jump: "The Cao family is clearly deliberately making things difficult! Yuan Shang's usurpation of the throne is imminent, yet they are still hindering us at this crucial moment!"

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan and said in a deep voice, "My lord, please calm down. Cao Pi's actions are nothing more than a delaying tactic. The Cao family's territory lies between Jingzhou and Hebei. If they obstruct us, we really won't be able to get around them!"

"Don't even think about it!" Liu Bei stood up abruptly, a fierce glint in his eyes. "Since they insist on blocking our way, then let's settle both old and new scores together. Issue my order: Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun shall each lead five thousand elite troops straight to Qiao County! Since they can't pass through, then we'll forge our own path!"

"Your subordinate obeys!" Zhang Fei could no longer contain himself. His eyes widened, and he charged out with his eighteen-foot spear in hand. Zhao Yun also bowed and accepted the order. His silver spear gleamed coldly in the sunlight as he turned and mustered his troops.

Inside the capital of Nanyang Commandery, the brothers Zhu Ling and Zhu Zan were frowning as they looked at the military report. The wind outside the window whipped up sand and dust, rattling against the windowpanes like the approaching footsteps of Liu Bei's army, making the two brothers restless.

“Brother, Liu Bei has amassed tens of thousands of troops in Nanyang. This looks like he's up to no good.” Zhu Zan rubbed his hands together, his voice filled with barely concealed panic. “We only have a little over ten thousand county soldiers. How can we possibly stop him?”

Zhu Ling frowned, his fingertips tracing the map on the table: "Cao Cao is fighting a fierce battle in Yanzhou, and Prince Cao Pi is guarding Qiao County. They may not be able to send troops to reinforce us. We can only hold Xinye for now. It is the main road from Nanyang to Qiao County. Once it falls, Liu Bei can advance unimpeded."

Before he could finish speaking, a guard stumbled in: "General! Something terrible has happened! Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun are attacking from two directions! The vanguard has already passed Bowangpo and is only fifty li away from Xinye!"

"What?!" Zhu Ling jumped up, her sword clattering against the corner of the table. "They actually dared to make a move!"

Zhu Zan's face turned pale: "Quickly! Send a fast horse to Qiao County to ask the young master for help! Tell him that Nanyang is in danger, and if Xinye falls, Nanyang's gates will be wide open!"

The guards obeyed and rushed off, but Zhu Ling grabbed his armor and draped it over himself: "There's no time to wait for reinforcements. We'll go to Xinye ourselves to set up defenses! Pass down the order: the entire army must set off immediately and hold the city before the enemy arrives!"